PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Old Dominion women's rowing team wraps up its inaugural season this weekend at the prestigious Dad Vail Regatta. The Lady Monarchs will be among the more than 100 colleges and universities from the United States and Canada participating in the largest collegiate regatta in the United States.

The regatta starts Friday morning, May 8th, on Philadelphia's Schuykill River with qualifying heats. Semi-final events start Saturday morning, May 9th, ending around 1 p.m. followed by the finals.

"We're all very excited to get to race this weekend," said head coach Heather Weisel. "The team is feeling prepared and is anxious to get started."

The Dad Vail is named for Harry Emerson "Dad" Vail the coach at Wisconsin in the 1920's. Two officials with ties to crew at the University of Pennsylvania started the Dad Vail naming it for their friend Harry Vail.